Borewell mishap: HC seeks detail on interim compensation

The Madras High Court today sought details from authorities concerned on whether any ad hoc interim compensation was granted to the parents of a boy who died after falling in an abandoned borewell recently.
After ordering issue of notice to government pleader STS Moorthy, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam directed him to file a counter-affidavit within four weeks and posted the matter for further hearing to June 18.
A two-and-a-half-year-old boy died after falling into the borewell in Vellore district on April 12 despite rescue efforts.
Petitioner G Sivagami, an advocate, highlighted many such incidents and alleged that authorities had not followed Supreme Court guidelines to prevent mishaps with regard to borewells. He also cited another order passed by Madras High Court in this regard last August.

He prayed the court to direct the authorities to frame rules for Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act,1994, and the Chennai Municipal Laws and Chennai Metropolitan Area Ground Water (Regulations) Amendment Act,2014, for regulating and managing erection of borewells besides abandoned borewells and tubewells.
He also sought an interim order to the authorities to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the parents of the boy.